Translation of Experimental essays on medical and philosophical subjects.

Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references.

The rare first French edition of Macbride's important chemical and medical researches. The five essays cover 1) on the fermentation of alimentary mixtures, digestion of food; 2) on the nature and properties of fixed air; 3) on different kinds of antiseptics; 4) on Scurvy; 5) on the dissolvent power of quick-lime. "This was, for its time, a very remarkable work, and has gained for its author a respectable place in history of chemistry."--Dr. Waring quotes in Bibliotheca Therapeutica, p.314. Macbride (1726-1778), a naval surgeon who studied at Glasgow, then with Dr. Hunter before settling in Dublin, is best known for these popular essays which made a great impression in France and Germany. In his Preface and in the text the author refers to Hales, Black, Pringle and others. He also states that the apparatus for his experiments were devised by Black. The essays were translated by Vincent Abbadie, a chief surgeon in the French navy.